There is a lot of mental illness in my family, so it wouldn't be such a big deal. Even so (or maybe because of that?) I haven't mentioned it to my family. Odd, because we always talk about my mother's mental illness and my aunt's. I figure we all know each other so well there is no need to put a definite label on the type of crazy we are. I haven't told anyone that I am BP, but I am sure people know I get depressed sometimes and crazy sometimes and furious some times, and if they know that, there is no need for me to label it. I guess I just hate labels because then you feel defined by them. I think it's similar to being gay. I have lots of gay friends and thinking about it, not one of them has made any kind of formal announcement to me - they've just gone straight in there and introduced their boyfriend. Cut to the chase, as it were. Not sure if that makes sense.